Dear Marvin,
I agree with you that drawing from memory, imagination or from observation
increases active thinking. However, how long would it take a child to
discover for himself or herself the principles of spatial perspective, or
the relationship of the bones and muscles to the face, just by drawing from
observation? Anyone can set an apple in front of a child and say, "Draw."
But it takes a trained art teacher to be able to communicate the art
elements and art principles in such a way that the child's expressive
vocabulary increases to the point where the child is happy with his or her
drawing ability.